Poles set indoor relay record
Poland set a world indoor record in the 4x400m relay on the final day at the world indoor athletics championships, with the United States also inside the old mark.
The Polish team of Karol Zalewski, Rafal Omelko, Lukasz Krawczuk and Jakub Krzewina won in 3m 01.77s. That shaved 0.36s off the previous record of 3:02.13, which was set by the US in 2014.
“It is a big shock and surprise for us,” Omelko said. “We were targeting the European record but really did not expect a result like this and never dreamed about the world record.”
The US team of Fred Kerley, Michael Cherry, Aldrich Bailey jnr and Vernon Norwood finished 0.2s behind Poland, also beating the previous record by a different US team.
Belgium was third, with the three Borlee brothers and Jonathan Sacoor setting a national record with 3:02.51.
The American women fared better, winning their 4x400m relay in a championship record of 3:23.85, but faced an anxious wait as the jury reviewed a series of appeals.
The team of Quanera Hayes, Georganne Moline and individual 400m gold and silver medallists Courtney Okolo and Shakima Wimbley dominated with the secondfastest indoor time ever — less than half a second off the world indoor record of 3:23.37.
Jamaica crossed the line in second place but was soon disqualified with an athlete in the incorrect order when waiting to receive the baton.
That saw Poland claim the silver with a national indoor record of 3:26.09 with Britain third in 3:29.38.
The race triggered a blizzard of appeals, all rejected.
World record holder Renaud Lavillenie won the world indoors pole vault for a third time, but it was his first significant title in two years after an injury-hit season last year.
Lavillenie was clearly emotional on the podium after being the only competitor to clear 5.90m. American Sam Kendricks was second, ahead of Poland’s Piotr Lisek after both cleared 5.85m in a competition which lasted more than three hours.
The US were also narrowly beaten to the title in the 60m hurdles, with Britain’s Andrew Pozzi edging out Jarret Eaton by 0.01s to win his first global title.
Samuel Terefa became the youngest-ever winner of the world indoor 1500m title. The 18-year-old Ethiopian won in 3:58.19, beating Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski and Abdelaati Iguider of Morocco.
Teammate Yomif Kejelcha successfully defended his 3000m title ahead of another Ethiopian, Selemon Barega, and Bethwell Birgen of Kenya.
Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi also successfully defended her title, in the 800m. — AP